Switch for overhead railways.



' I No. 848,681.

I PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. E. O..NEWTON.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD RAILWAYS.

Y PPPPP OA T IIIIIIIII EB.6.1907.

IINIE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CLIFTON NEWTON, OF RENO, NEVADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM PICKERSGILL, OF RENO, NEVADA.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD RAILWAYS- Specification of Letters Patent...

Application filed February 6, 1907. Serial No. 356,069.

Patented April 2, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD CLIFTON NEWTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Reno, WVashoe county, Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches for Overhead Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which a carrier travels upon over head rails supported by pendent brackets, and relates to the switch device of such an apparatus whereby thecarrier may be deflected from the main rail to any one of a series of radiating rails; and my invention consists of means whereby the switch may be readily supported and carried to different positions and automatically locked there without lost motion until it is necessary to change the position, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a part of an overhead railway and embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section showing part of the switch-plate and carrier and locking device. Fig. 3 is a section through the carrier and switch-plate. is a transverse section illustrating a different arrangement of the locking device. Fig. 5 is a transverse section illustrating a different arrangement of the locking device and different form of guide and carrier.

The switch-plate A is adapted for attachment beneath any suitable support and supports a series of pendent hangers D, adapted for the attachment of a series of radiating rails J, and a hanger F, also adapted for at tachment to and below any suitable support, supports the end of the main rail G, to which is pivoted at a: the switch-rail E, the latter-being connected at its outer end to the bracket 1 of a carrier O, which slides upon and is supported by a guide on the switch-plate. The hangers D are arranged upon a curve, and the guide is also upon a curve concentric with a circle the center of which is the pivotal point :0 of the switch, so that the swinging end of the switch E may be brought opposite the end of either one of the radiating rails J, supported by the hangers D, to permit the roller or wheel y of the carrier X to pass over the switch onto any one of the diverging tracks.

Fig. 4

In order to insure the absolute coincidence of the end of the switch-rail with the end of the radiating rail on the edge of which the carrier should pass, I provide an automatic lock L of any suitable character which will hold the carrier O in its proper position after adjustment. As shown, the lock is in the form of a rounded bolt 3, adapted to a series of notches or recesses 4. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 these recesses are shown as in the switchplate. In Fig. 4 they are in one of the edges of the guide. In Fig. 5 they are in the hangers; but whatever their position the bolt will spring into place in the notch whenever it is brought opposite the same, with the end of the switch opposite the end of the radiating rail. Accordingto the position of the notches the bolt may be carried by the carrier O in a vertical position, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or in a horizontal position, as in Figs. 4 and 5. As best shown in Fig. 2,.the bolt has a stem fitting a spring 5 of pure gum confined in a casing 6, adapted to a socket in the carrier and confined in place by a screwplug 7; but of course a spiral spring or other suitable character of spring-bolt could be operated with like effect.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the notches 4 have sides at right angles to each other, and as the switch-rail is supported by the bracket 1 at a considerable distance below the carrier C any pressure tending to deflect the switch-rail out of line with the rail J would have but very little effect to force the bolt against the inclined sides of the notches and carry the bolt inward, so that the lock is effective in holding the parts in place; but by applying suflicient'draft to the carrier itself the bolt may be forced inward, so as to permit the carrier to be shifted from one position to the other, the bolt springing outward and tending to lock the carrier whenever it is brought opposite any one of the notches. Diiferent means may be employed for shifting the carrier. As shown, it is provided with eyes adapted for attachment with drag-chains 8 S.

The guide for the carrier may be differently constructed. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, it

consists of two separated flanged ribs, upon which the carrier slides, with the hanger or bracket between. In Fig. 5 there is a single flanged rib adapted to a corresponding socket in the carrier.

As shown, the hangers D are connected detachably with the switch-plate, the latter 1 having a series of openings 2, adapted to receive the bolts by which the hangers are se cured.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown,

I claim 1. In a switch device for elevated rails, a switch-plate provided with a series of hangers and with a guideiarranged on parallel curves, a second bracket for supporting the main rail, a switch hinged to the main rail, a carrier adapted to slide upon the guide of the switch-plate and to support the outer end of the switch, and a spring-lock carried by the carrier and adapted to engage notches upon the switch-plate, or parts supported thereby, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a switch-plate having a curved guide and a series of hangers, of a carrier movable upon the said guide and adapted to support the end of a switch, and provided with a spring-lock, for the purpose described.

3. The combination of a switch-plate and series of hangers connected thereto in position to support a series of radiating rails, and with a :curved guide and series of notches, 1

vided with a lock for engaging said notches. and having a bracket adapted to support the end of a pivoted switch.

4. The combination of a switch-plate and series of hangers supported thereby, a ciuved guide consisting of separated flanged ribs and series of notches in the switch-plate, a carrier slidin upon said guides and provided with a hanger or bracket extending downward between the guides, and a spring-look carried by the carrier and adapted to notches in the switch-plate. 5. The combination of a switch-plate, pendent hangers and means for connecting the hangers detachably to the plate, a curved guide upon the switch-plate, a slide supported by said guideiland provided with a bracket for the attachment of a switch, and a springlock provided with a rounded bolt, and carried by the carrier and adapted to engage notches in the switch-plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDXVARD CLIFTON NEWTON.

Vitnesses \VILLIAM PIOKERSGILL,

FRANK LUSI-IBAUGII.

l and a carrier sliding upon said guide and pro- 0 

